September 30 - October 4, 2025

The Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) World Conference is an inspiring gathering of global experts in ecological restoration. Along with our Building Block Biodiversity partners, SACA (Spanish American Civic Association), Waxwing is honored to be among the organizations represented at this gathering of visionaries from the global restoration community. Learn more and register here. 

January 10, 2026
January 17, 2026
February 7, 2026

This hands-on, 3-day certificate program is geared toward ecological practitioners and serious home stewards. Participants learn how to partner with nature and assist in the recovery of degraded ecosystems to create healthy, resilient habitats for wildlife, based upon the foundational worldwide Ecological and Social Benefits standards from the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER). The skills you’ll explore can be applied in a landscaping business, rewilding projects, habitat conservation and management, restoration projects, urban community projects, agriculture, and more. 

Community Partner: Horn Farm

February - May 2026

The Ecological Gardener Training Program (EGTP) guides landowners, landscape practitioners, conservation volunteers, and aspiring land stewards in the craft of designing, building, and stewarding biodiverse native habitats that support the well-being of wildlife and humans. Participants explore native plants and landscapes, lawn conversion methods, scaled designing, keystone species, food webs, shifting baseline theory, ecological memory, plant identification, rights of nature, and seasonal management techniques that can be applied to community, residential, and wild spaces. Hands-on design and planting projects develop applicable skills while increasing biodiversity. 

Community Partner: Horn Farm

Ongoing Dates

The Habitat Advocate Certificate class series brings together inquisitive native gardeners at SACA’s Tec Centro. Whether you’re a homeowner, a seasoned landscaper or groundskeeper, or a passionate community member, you’ll learn skills and insights that empower you to transform your neighborhood, school, or place of worship into a thriving space for wildlife. Classes explore topics ranging from nature journaling to green mulch, stormwater management, and powerhouse native plants for wildlife. Complete all 10 classes in the series to earn a Habitat Advocate Certificate, or simply attend an individual class that suits your interests.

Community Partners: Lancaster Conservancy, SACA

Next program dates TBD

This program is an abbreviated version of the Habitat Advocates certificate and is designed for working landscapers to nurture conservation-based practices. Participants learn about the value of native plants, native plant swaps for introduced or “invasive” species, and simple methods to convert conventional landscaping practices to more eco-friendly alternatives. Participants apply their newly acquired knowledge by completing a group project that includes a proposed native plant palette, suggested site preparation, and recommended seasonal stewarding techniques. 

Scheduled on request

Educators are invited to participate in a thought-provoking training that explores ways to engage youth in meaningful, rigorous, interdisciplinary learning in outdoor living laboratories. This training will guide you in how to build empathy for the small critters that sustain our world, enhance student collaboration skills, and create project-based solutions to challenging questions about pollinator decline, stormwater runoff, and more.

School District of Lancaster staff, please sign-up via the district-wide PD schedule.

All other schools/school districts, please contact us to book your next PD!

Community Partners: School District of Lancaster, other regional school districts